ML021570608

G20020279 - Raymond A. Rusnak Ltr Re Shutting Down Davis-Besse Until the Vessel Head Is Replaced

ML021570608
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	06/11/2002
From:	Anthony Mendiola NRC/NRR/DLPM
To:	Rusnak R - No Known Affiliation
Macon, WA, NRR/DLPM/LPD III-2, 415-3965
References
G20020279
Download: ML021570608 (3)

Text

June 11, 2002 Mr. Raymond A. Rusnak 30555 Manhasset Bay Village, OH 44140

Dear Mr. Rusnak:

I am responding on behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to your letter of April 30, 2002, regarding your concerns of safety issues and the adequacy of NRC oversight prompted by the recent discovery of the degraded reactor pressure vessel (RPV) head at FirstEnergys Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station (Davis-Besse). In your letter you requested the NRC to shutdown Davis-Besse until a new head is fabricated. I would like to express my appreciation for your effort in bringing your concerns to the attention of the NRC.

The NRC is taking significant regulatory action prompted by the discovery of RPV head degradation at Davis-Besse. The NRC has established a special oversight panel to coordinate the agencys activities in assessing the performance problems associated with the corrosion damage to the RPV head. The oversight panel includes NRC management personnel and staff from the Region III office in Lisle, Illinois, the NRC Headquarters office in Rockville, Maryland, and the NRC Resident Inspector Office at the Davis-Besse site. The oversight activities are conducted under the agencys Inspection Manual Chapter 0350, which establishes the procedures to be followed for the oversight of utility performance for plants that are shut down as a result of significant performance problems or events. The panel will hold public meetings periodically with FirstEnergy representatives to review the status of activities associated with the corrosion damage. These meetings will normally be held in the vicinity of the Davis-Besse plant. The objective of the panel is to provide the required oversight throughout the shutdown and restart of the facility to ensure that the plant would safely operate in accordance with the NRC rules and requirements, and that there is reasonable assurance for the protection of public health and safety. The plant will not restart until the NRC is satisfied that all current safety concerns have been resolved.

The NRC has also created a Davis-Besse RPV Head Degradation Lessons Learned Task Force (LLTF) to conduct an independent evaluation of the NRC staffs regulatory processes related to assuring reactor vessel head integrity. This team consists of NRC managers and staff who are not routinely associated with the Davis-Besse plant. The team officially commenced its review activities on June 2, 2002, and expects to issue a report detailing its observations, conclusions, and recommendations by September 3, 2002. Additional information about both the 0350 Panel and LLTF efforts is publicly available on the NRCs Web site via the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room under Accession Numbers ML021230683 and ML021370684, respectively.

R. Rusnak Additionally, the licensee is taking action to provide for independent oversight of actions related to the RPV head degradation. We believe that all of these efforts will provide information to adequately resolve the outstanding Davis-Besse safety issues and associated concerns.

The licensee has also decided to replace the damaged RPV head rather than repair it, which should satisfy your concerns about the proposed repair plan. Thank you for bringing your concerns to the attention of the NRC.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Anthony J. Mendiola, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate III Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

R. Rusnak Additionally, the licensee is taking action to provide for independent oversight of actions related to the RPV head degradation. We believe that all of these efforts will provide information to adequately resolve the outstanding Davis-Besse safety issues and associated concerns.

The licensee has also decided to replace the damaged RPV head rather than repair it, which should satisfy your concerns about the proposed repair plan. Thank you for bringing your concerns to the attention of the NRC.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Anthony J. Mendiola, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate III Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC J. Craig PD3-2 r/f S. Burns, OGC S. Collins/J. Johnson OGC J. Zwolinski/T. Marsh OCA B. Sheron/K. Johnson OPA TJ Gorham (EDO # G20020279) W. Travers S. Bajwa C. Paperiello A. Mendiola W. Kane W. Macon K. Cyr, OGC S. Sands J. Goldberg, OGC D. Pickett R. Subbaratnam T. Harris J. Dyer, RIII W. Borchardt L. Cox P. Norry Package: ML021570614 ADAMS Accession Number: ML021570608 Incoming: ML021330229 OFFICE PM:LPD3-2 LA:LPD3-2 SC:LPD3-2 NAME WMacon CRosenberg for AMendiola THarris DATE 06/11/02 06/11/02 06/11/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY